Solomon Ortiz says farewell

U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, who represents Kingsville and Kleberg County in the 27th Congressional District, conceded defeat in the Nov. 2 general election in a phone call about 8 p.m. Monday to Republican challenger Blake Farenthold following a manual recount of all votes cast in the district.

Ortiz congratulated Farenthold and invited Farenthold to meet with him to discuss the transition.

“I wish him well,” Ortiz said in a written statement issued to the press.

“I ask Mr. Farenthold, as I have done so for the past 27 years, to represent every one of his constituents in this congressional district,” he said.

“I respectfully urge him to continue to spur economic growth in South Texas; reduce the unemployment rate; help working families succeed; provide affordable health care for all Americans; secure our U.S.-Mexico border from violence and drug war; and ensure America can continue to be a land of freedom, opportunity and prosperity for all. Again, I wish him good luck,” Ortiz said.

“ I continue to stress the importance of ensuring every vote was counted and every person’s voice was heard,” Ortiz said in explaining why he requested a recount when many of his supporters and constituents contacted him and asked me to do so. “(Monday) that process was completed, as we recounted more than 106,000 votes in San Patricio, Nueces, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy and Cameron Counties,” he said.

“Although I gained votes during the manual recount, I did not surpass my opponent’s lead,” Ortiz noted.

“To my supporters who have been with me since I was

Ortiz
first elected to office in 1964 at the age of 27, from the very bottom of my heart, I thank you for standing by me and with me through it all,” he said.

“Words cannot tell how much I appreciate the love and support you have shown me and my family over the years,” Ortiz said.

“I truly believe that through our work and significant contributions during my years of service in Congress, we leave South Texas better than before,” he said.

Ortiz said he leaves the national stage certain of having done the right thing for those he represented, noting that “in the thousands of votes I cast in Congress for the 27th Congressional District of Texas, time and time again, I voted as my constituents asked me to do so.”

Although Ortiz gained 146 votes in Cameron County, Farenthold still had 648 votes more than the 28-year congressman.